Spring mattress



March 10, 1936. 15 M'ADDUX I 2,033,841

SPRING MATTRESS Filed May 24, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Wmn i/m ATTORNEYE March 10, 1936. F. E. MADDUX SPRING MATTRESS Filed ma 24, 1954 :s Sheet s-Sheet 2 IZZEYEEJ WM mmz ATTORNEYS March 10, 1936. F. E. MADDUX 2,033,841

SPRING MATTRESS Filed May 24, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRING MATTRESS Forrest E. Maddox, (lincinnati, Ohio Application May 24, 15534., Serial No. 727,318

2 Claims. (Cl.5- -352) This invention relates to spring mattresses particularly adapted for hospital adjustable beds and provides for reclining or disposing portions or sections thereof to angular positions conforming to the adjustment of the support structure of the bed.

An object of the invention is to provide a spring mattress constituting spiral spring assembly sections, the sections principally connected along lines transverse of the mattress for relatively reclining or inclining the sections, and in the provision of a suitable cover therefor.

Various other features and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved spring mattress with a portion of the fabric cover cut away to show the general assembly of the springs and disclose the relation of an elastic webbing extending crosswise of the cover to a connection joining sections of the mattress.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the covered mattress.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view similar to Figure 1, showing the month end of the cover partially opened.

Figure 4 is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of the mattress with the cover omitted and at a point in which sections of the spring assemblies are unconnected at the top side thereof.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5, Figure 4, extended to illustrate spring assembly sections unconnected at the bottom side of the mattress.

Figure 6 is an enlarged bottom plan view similar to Figure 4 of a portion of the mattress.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of an end portion of the mattress showing the mouth end of the cover.

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the mattress in use in a bed equipped with an adjustable mattress support.

Figure 9 is an enlarged section similar to Figure 5, showing sections of the mattress in relative angle of positions resulting from a selected bed adjustment.

A spring mattress constituting an assembly of the group of spiral springs arranged in a plurality of rows longitudinally and transversely of the mattress and the springs of adjacent rows respectively at their top and bottom terminal coils connected or tied together by coils of helical springs extending longitudinally of the rows is very extensively and favorably used within household beds wherein the mattress is always sustained in a horizontal plane. Spring assemblies of such character have heretofore not been adaptable for hospital, institution or invalid beds, wherein the mattress supporting structure of the bed is adjustable to recline or incline certain portions for the benefit and'comi'ort of the patient, the spring assembly not permitting any extended bending of one portion relative to another without distortion of the mattress or destroying its cushion characteristics.

The present invention provides a spring assembly and cover therefor, particularly adaptable for hospital and invalid beds to accommodate for the full range of adjustment of the mattress supporting structure of the bed to allow for inclining or elevating certain portions as is exemplified in Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings.

The mattress is primarily composed of sections of spiral spring assemblies, the sections hingedly connected together at either the upper or lower side of the mattress to accommodate for the variations in range of adjustment provided for in a hospital or invalid bed. Various methods may be followed in relatively arranging and connecting or tying the spiral springs of a group or section, and it is customary to form the terminal coils of the spirals of a peculiar configuration as provided with corrugations or offsets for appropriately receiving a plural number of coils of a helical spring extending longitudinally of an adjacent row of spiral springs, for hingedly connecting the terminal coils of adjacent rows and preventing their lateral displacement. These characteristics of the commercial spring mattresses for use in a household bed are incorporated in the present invention and follow a type which has been very extensively employed.

Referring to the drawings, the mattress com-- prises spring assembly sections connected together in a particular manner in which each section'comprises a group of spiral springs l which are preferably arranged in rows longitudinally and transversely of the mattress, the rows connected together transversely of the mattress, and with a longitudinal row for the opposite ends of the section. The spiral springs are held in assembly relation by the coils of helical springs 2 extending transversely of the mattress, each helical spring connecting the terminal coils of adjacent rows of spiral springs.

Each spiral spring I terminates at each end in an enlarged coil 3 designated as a terminal coil which is provided at each opposite side respectively with an outwardly extended offset 4 with the offsets for the opposite sides at relatively staggered positions to avoid the oifset of one terminal overlapping with the offset of an adjacent coil when assembled. The coils of the helicals 2 are threaded onto the offsets and each offset is of a size to receive several coils of the helical to prevent displacement, and the several connected parts are freely hinged, one to the other, with the hinging motion of one spiral spring being independent from that of another.

The spring assembly or section at each of its opposite ends is respectively provided with an edge row of spirals I. The convoiutions of the spirals preferably are of oblong design as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, with the terminal coils of the edge row connected to the adjoining end spirals of the several rows forming the section by a helical spring 6 extending longitudinally of the edge row and at right angles to the transverse helicals. The terminal coils of the end spirals of each transverse row each is formed with a third offset 1 to receive one or a plural number of coils of the helical 6. The spirals forming the edge row have their terminal coils at the inner side provided with double oilsets or corrugations 8 which connect with the helical 6 for preventing lateral and rotative movement of the terminal coils of the edge row spirals.

The terminal coils for the edge row spirals at the opposite or outer side have an offset of increased dimension to provide an extended length of crossbar portion 9 for receiving an increased number of coils of the helical Ill to offer greater flexibility of the helical and avoid distortion as the spirals individually are subjected to greater loads occasioned while the person is entering upon or leaving the bed.

In adapting the mattress for the general type of hospital adjustable beds, it is divided into four sections to constitute a head section I l, foot section ii", and a pair of intermediate sections l2 and i3 hingedly connected one to the other. The number of sections and method of hingedly connecting the same can be made to meet different requirements and as disclosed the intermediate sections l2 and I3 and the head section II, one to the other, hingedly connect at the upper side of the mattress to allow the head section and the intermediate section I! to be adjusted from -the horizontal to an upwardly inclined position while sustaining the intermediate section l3 in the horizontal position.

The intermediate section l2 and the foot section ii are hingedly connected at the lower side of the mattress for reclining or inclining the foot section and in a direction divergent or opposite to the section I2. The'hinging connection of the sections one to the other follows substantially as the method of connecting the terminal coils of one row of spirals with the terminal coils of an adjacent or adjoining row in making a spring assembly by means of a transversely extended helical engaging with the offsets of the terminal coils.

For the lower and upper unconnected sides, the terminal coils of each of the end rows of the two sections are each respectively provided with an edging as a helical l4 connecting the outer side of the terminal coils of the end row of an assembly. These ends of the section are connected by a webbing ii, the ends of the webbing being looped or bound about the edging helicals of the adjoining end rows of the two sections to limit the hinging motion or swing of the sections, and loosely tie the two sections together at one side of the mattress. This same method of loosely connecting the unconnected sides of the sections is followed for either the upper or lower sides of the mattress as is illustrated in Figures 5 and 9.

The webbing I5 is also utilized for preventing the coils of the edging helicals of the adjoining sections from intermeshing and clinging together, which may result in distortion should they be unduly strained in an effort to pull them apart while relatively adjusting the sections.

The edging helicals for the unconnected edges of two adjoining sections are preferably reinforced each by rods IS, the rod having its opposite ends bent and engaging with the ends of the helical through which the rod projects to prevent displacement.

The spring mattress is preferably completely enclosed by a fabric covering I'I constructed in the form of a bag. The bag has an opening at one end as shown in Figure 3 with the ends of the fabric forming the bag opening provided with suitable separable fasteners or lacing for convenient application and removal of the bag over and from the mattress.

The cover or bag is provided with elastic inserts l8 in the upper and lower face sides, each terminating in an elastic gore portion ii! for the opposite longitudinal sides. The inserts are disposed transversely of the mattress, each appropriately along a hinging line of a pair of sections and at the unconnected sides thereof. This allows the cover to expand upon relatively inclining or folding the mattress sections.

The mattress is secured to the mattress supporting structure of the bed to hold it against displacement by straps 20, respectively looped through the terminal coils at the lower side of the intermediate section I3 which usually is not shifted from the horizontal position, the opposite ends of the straps engaging through slots in the cover to render the same accessible for tying to the supporting structure of the bed.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A covering for a spring mattress composed of a plurality of spiral spring assembly sections hingedly connected, comprising, a fabric bag open at one end for engaging the same over the' mattress, and an elastic strip insert respectively for each hinged joint of the mattress extending transversely thereof, and in a face side of the bag opposite the hinging connection of a pair of sections, and extended to be included within the opposite sides of the bag.

2. A mattress comprising a plurality of spring assembly sections hingedly connected transversely of the mattress, a fabric bag open at one end for engaging over the mattress, and an elastic strip insert respectively for each hinged joint of the assembly sections extending transversely thereof and in the face side of the bag opposite the hinging connection of a pair of sections and extended to be included within the opposite sides of the bag.

FORREST E. MADDUX. 

